Synchro flash flood system



April 1953 T. D. HOBBS SYNCHRO FLASH FLOOD SYSTEM Filed May 26, 1950 INVENTOR.

TAZ D. HOBBS AT o QN EYS Patented Apr. 14, 1953 I 2,635,216 sYNoHao FLASH FLOOD SYSTEM 1 1a; .D. Hobbs, Alvin, Tex. Application May 26, 1950, Serial No. 164,479

2 Claims.

1 invention relates to photographic apparatus, and more particularly to a system for obtaining high intensity illumination for photography employing conventional electric lamps.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved arrangement for obtaining light of photographic intensity from ordinary electric lamps, said system being very simple :in construction, involving only a few parts, and being automatic in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for obtaining illumination of photographic intensity from ordinary electric lamps, said device being very inexpensive to construct, being reliable in operation, and involving "only a relatively few components. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

The single figure illustrates schematically the circuit diagram of an improved photographic illumination system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, I I designates a conventional camera provided with the shutter i 2 controlled by a pneumatically actuated trip or release l3. Designated at 14 is a conventional control bulb connected to a Y-shaped fitting !5 at one leg is of the fitting. Another leg H of the fitting is connected by a hose l 8 to the pneumatically operated trip l3. Connected to the stem I9 of the fitting by a hose 2!] is a bellows 21, said bellowsbeing "adapted to extend its length upwardly, as viewed in the figure, responsive to compression of the bulb l4. Mechanically connected to the top end of thebellows 2| are the respective switch poles 22 and 23. Associated with the switch pole 22 are contacts 24 and 25, the switch pole 22 being normally in engagement with the contact 24, as shown. Associated with the switch pole 23 is a contact 26, the pole 23 being normally out of engagement with contact 26, and the pole 22 being normally out of engagement with the contact 25, said poles being elevated into engagement with the respective contacts 26 and 25 responsive to the expansion of bellows 2| caused by compression of bulb M.

Designated at 21 are lamp sockets or female receptacles to which lamp sockets may be electrically connected, the elements 2'! being connected in parallel to wires 28 and 29. Wire 29 is connected to one of the line wires 30 by a wire 3i. The other line wire 32 is connected to the switch pole 22. Designated at 33 is an auto-transformer whose end terminals are connected respectively to the line wire 30 and to the switch contact 26. The inner tap of the winding of the auto-transformer 33 is connected to the switch contact 25 by a wire 34. The upper switch pole 2 3 is connected by a wire 35 to the Wire 28. Designated at 36 is a manually controlled switch pole connected to the wire 35, as shown, and being provided with a contact 3? which is connected to contact 24 by a conductor 38.

In operation, the switch pole 36 may first be closed to energize the lamps connected to sockets 27 at normal brilliance by a circuit which comprises line wire 32, switch pole 22, contact 24, conductor 38, contact '31, switch pole 36, wires 35 and 28, the filaments of the lamps,

'wire 3! and line wire 30. When the photographic exposure is to be taken, bulb I4 is compressed, thereby extending the bellows 2i and elevating the switch poles 22 and 23 into engagement with therespective contacts 25 and 26. This applies line voltage to the lower portion of the autotransformer winding by a circuit comprising line wire 32, switch pole 22, contact 25, wire 34, the lower portion of the winding of the auto-transformer 33, and line wire 30. This induces a high voltage across the winding of the auto-trans- .former 33, said high voltage being applied to the lamps by a circuit comprising line wire 30, the winding of the auto-transformer, switch contact 25, switch pole 23,, wire 35, wire 28, the lamp filaments, wire 3! and line Wire 30. Simultaneously with the application of high voltage to the lamp filaments, the shuttertrip i3 is closed, whereby the shutter 12 is operated, said trip being arranged in a conventional manner to provide a slight time delay in the opening of the shutter to allow the lamps to reach peak brilliance. Due to the exceptionally high voltage applied to the lamps, said lamps provide a much higher brilliance than their normalvalue. It is therefore possible to employ conventional lamps to obtain the required high illumination for making the photographic exposure.

In the procedure above described, when switch 36 is closed, sufficient illumination is provided to enable the photographers to properly pose their subjects, whereby when bulb I4 is compressed, a proper photographic exposure may be obtained. In the event that the photographer wishes to obtain merely a flash exposure, switch pole 36 is left in the open position and the exposure is taken merely by compressing the bulb 14, whereby the high value of voltage is applied to the filaments of the lamps by the action of the auto-,

transformer 33.

lamps has been disclosed in the foregoing description, various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art.

Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminating system for selectively supplying illumination at different intensities comprising a pair of line wires, a lamp assembly directly connected at one side to one of said line wires, a single poledouble throw switch, conductor means connecting the pole of said switch to the other of said line wires, conductor means .4 wires, a single pole double throw switch, conductor means connecting the pole of said switch to the other of said line wires, conductor means connecting one terminal of said switch to the other side of said lamp assembly, the pole of said switch being normally closed with said one terminal to apply line voltage to said lamp assembly for providing illumination at a low intensity, an auto transformer having two end terminals and an intermediate terminal, conductor means directly connecting one end terminal of said auto transformer to said one line wire, conductor means connecting the intermediate terminal of said auto transformer to the other terminal of said single pole double throw switch, a'single pole single throw switch, conductor means con- I necting the other end terminal of said auto transconnecting one terminal of said switch to the other side of said lamp assembly, the pole of said switch being normally closed with said one terminal to apply line voltage to said lamp assembly for providing illumination at a low intensity, an auto transformer having two end terminals and an intermediate terminal, conductor means directly connecting one end terminal of said auto transformer to said one line Wire, conductor means connecting the intermediate terminal of said auto transformer to the other terminal of said single pole double throw switch, a single pole single throw switch, conductor means connecting the other end terminal of said auto transformer to the terminal of said single throw single pole throw switch being normally open, and manually operated means connected to both of said switches for simultaneously operating the latter to move the pole of said single pole double throw switch from said one terminal to said other terminal and connect said intermediate terminal of "said auto transformer to said other line wire to energize said transformer and to close said single pole single throw switch to thereby connect said other end terminal of said transformer to said other side-of the lamp assembly and apply the output of said transformer to said lamp assembly for providing illumination at a high intensity.

2. An illuminating system for selectively supplying illumination at different intensities comprising a pair of line wires, a lamp assembly directly connected at one side to one of said line switch, conductor means connecting the pole of said single pole single throw switch to said other side of said lamp assembly, said single pole single former to the terminal of said single throw single pole switch, conductor means connecting the pole of said single pole single throw switch to said other side of said lamp assembly, said single pole single throw switch being normally open, manually operated means connected to both of said switches for simultaneously operating the latter to move the pole of said single pole double throw switch from saidone terminal to said other terminal and connect said intermediate terminal of said auto transformer to said other line wire to energize said transformer and to close said single pole single throw switch to thereby connect said other end terminal of said transformerto said other side of the lamp assembly and apply the output of said transformer to said lamp assembly for providing illumination at a high intensity, and a third switch interposed in the conductor means between said other side of said lamp assembly and said one terminal of said single pole double throw switch to discontinue operation of said lamp assembly at said low intensity and limit such operation to said high intensity illumination only.

TAZ D. HOBBS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stein et al Sept, 2, 1952 

